John El Manahi: Paintings From The Artist’s Wife

FILM SCREENING STARTS AT 5:30PM

The Bridgehampton Museum is pleased to present an exhibition of works by artist John El Manahi. These paintings comprise a special body of work, embodying the melded styles of two fictional characters whose art needed to occupy a credible place in art history. They were created for and included in Tom Dolby’s movie The Artist’s Wife (2019) which was filmed in the Hamptons and starred Bruce Dern and Lena Olin as the lead characters. The paintings will be on view at the newly inaugurated Tractor Barn located at the Corwith House from November 7-22, 2025. The Opening Reception will take place on November 7th from 5-7pm with the screening of the film beginning at 5:30pm.

The Tractor Barn is a contemporary gallery space nestled within the historic structures situated on the William A. Corwith Homestead Property. On the evening of the opening, a special fundraising screening of the Movie will take place on November 7th to raise awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s research. The director of the film, Tom Dolby and his production company Water’s End Productions, have generously provided us with the film to screen. We invite you to come and view the works from the movie along with the film itself. Donations will be accepted and a percentage of sales of the paintings will be donated to Alzheimer’s research.

As Production Designer of The Artist’s Wife, John was tasked with creating the film’s entire visual style. Director Tom Dolby brought him on after their initial meeting revealed not only his production design experience but also his artistic background and knowledge of art history. The film’s main characters were both artists of the later American Abstract Expressionist period, requiring artwork that expressed their specific styles while maintaining the legitimacy of the artistic tradition from which they emerged.

An attempt was made to license work from existing artists, but none fit the production’s needs. Confronted with seemingly insurmountable time and budget limitations, it was decided they would create the paintings themselves. In addition to designing the film and all that it entails, John created the 18 large-scale original artworks included in this exhibition.

“I modeled Richard’s style after a 1960s abstract expressionist with Franz Kline’s gestural mark-making coupled with Willem de Kooning’s color, texture, and composition. Clare’s style combined elements of Lee Krasner and Helen Frankenthaler. I created early works in which both styles were depicted clearly, then blended them for the later works in the final exhibition [in the film].

The paintings were titled to correspond with the story, allowing the set decoration department to place them accordingly on set. I consider these paintings serious works within my own artistic practice, despite having created them under parameters necessary to give the film’s narrative validity and depth.

These paintings carry an intended emotional depth that I hope communicates to all who view them.”

- (John El Manahi)